25 Oil Paintings Inspired by Seasons

Oil painting “Generational Tree” by artist Natalie Buske Thomas

Seasons

The 2022 collection is now finished. Paintings in this collection celebrate seasons of life as well as seasons of nature. Previous finished collections in the “Inspired” series: Nature (2021), Christian Faith (2020), and Savannah, Georgia (2019). The previous collections contain 50 oil paintings, the 2022 collection is reduced to 25, due to the unexpected move and major life changes for Natalie in May of 2022. Work on the 2023 collection has begun. The number of paintings planned for that collection is to be determined.

List of Oil Paintings in “Seasons”, linking to their pages here on this site:

  1. Spring and Summer
    1.1  “Frog in Garden
    1.2 “Yellow Rosebud
    1.3 “Yellow Rose
    1.4  “Easter Lily
    1.5  “Jesus at Calvary
    1.6 “Walking in Rain Puddle
    1.7 “Alabama Landscape
    1.8 “Cardinal in July
  2. Autumn and Winter
    2.1 “Autumn Leaves
    2.2 “Pumpkin Carving
    2.3 “Pumpkin Latte
    2.4 “Apple Orchard
    2.5 “Campfire
    2.6 “Thanksgiving Turkey and Pumpkins
    2.7 “Thanksgiving
    2.8 “Walking to Piano Lessons
    2.9 “The Christmas Dance
    2.10 “Nativity Scene
    2.11  “Christmas Tree
  3. Seasons of Life *meaning of these to be explained in book and blog
    6.7 “Coffee Outside
    6.8 “Lighthouse
    6.9 “Lion in Storm
    4.6 “Osprey
    4.7 “Chickadees in Holly
    4.8 “Generational Tree

Natalie’s lifetime goal is 1k finished oil paintings. Join her on her journey by following her blog.

Enjoy Natalie’s art on fun, creative, and classy gifts for you and your family!

Note: Only a few of Natalie’s paintings are featured in the gift shop. If you don’t find the art you are looking for, please let us know and we will include it as soon as possible.

Tip Natalie to fund art supplies to reach her lifetime goal of 1,000 finished oil paintings, a series of live events, and surprising opportunities!

“Grandpa Smiles” Videos

Watch me paint the illustrations for children’s book Grandpa Smiles

Go back to the Grandpa Smiles main page.

Go back to the HOME page.

“Flying to Heaven”

Watch Natalie paint this illustration from children’s book “Grandpa Smiles”

“This art (‘Flying to Heaven’) is the eighth illustration for my first oil painting book Grandpa Smiles, published in 2014. It is a short sweet inspirational and comforting children’s book about losing a grandparent. A family’s love is forever.”

NOTE: There are several more oil paintings featured in the book that do not have videos:

  1. The boy’s karate class attire and backpack
  2. His shoes
  3. Profile of the boy as preteen and teen
  4. Portrait of the boy’s grandparents on the wall

Items 2-3 were done on scrap flatboard. Item 4 was a previous painting for a gallery exhibit.

Go back to the Grandpa Smiles video page.

Go back to the Grandpa Smiles main page.

Go back to the HOME page.

“Cardinal in a Tree”

Watch Natalie paint this illustration from children’s book “Grandpa Smiles”

“This art (‘Cardinal in a Tree’) is the seventh illustration for my first oil painting book Grandpa Smiles, published in 2014. It is a short sweet inspirational and comforting children’s book about losing a grandparent. A family’s love is forever.”

Read “Grandpa Smiles” in this 2 minute video version
Visit the Menu of Painting Shows, Videos and FREE Classes

Go back to the Grandpa Smiles video page.

Go back to the Grandpa Smiles main page.

Go back to the HOME page.

“Hospital”

Watch Natalie paint this illustration from children’s book “Grandpa Smiles”

“This art (‘Hospital’) is the fifth illustration for my first oil painting book Grandpa Smiles, published in 2014. It is a short sweet inspirational and comforting children’s book about losing a grandparent. A family’s love is forever.”

Go back to the Grandpa Smiles video page.

Go back to the Grandpa Smiles main page.

Go back to the HOME page.

“Flutters By”

Watch Natalie paint this illustration from children’s book “Grandpa Smiles”

“This art ‘Blue Butterfly’ (the ‘Flutters By’ scene) is the third illustration for my first oil painting book Grandpa Smiles, published in 2014. It is a short sweet inspirational and comforting children’s book about losing a grandparent. A family’s love is forever.”

Blue Butterfly” is included in the collection “50 Oil Paintings Inspired by Nature“.

Go back to the Grandpa Smiles video page.

Go back to the Grandpa Smiles main page.

Go back to the HOME page.

“The Toddler Creeps”

Watch Natalie paint this illustration from children’s book “Grandpa Smiles”

“This art (‘The Toddler Creeps’) is the second illustration for my first oil painting book Grandpa Smiles, published in 2014. It is a short sweet inspirational and comforting children’s book about losing a grandparent. A family’s love is forever.”

Go back to the Grandpa Smiles video page.

Go back to the Grandpa Smiles main page.

Go back to the HOME page.

“The Baby Sleeps”

Watch Natalie paint this illustration from children’s book “Grandpa Smiles”

“This art (‘The Baby Sleeps’) is the beginning illustration for my first oil painting book Grandpa Smiles, published in 2014. It is a short sweet inspirational and comforting children’s book about losing a grandparent. A family’s love is forever.”

Go back to the Grandpa Smiles video page.

Go back to the Grandpa Smiles main page.

Go back to the HOME page.

“We Gather Together”

Watch Natalie paint this art, and all 50 oil paintings in this collection (menu below)

“What is the holiday season like in Savannah? What is Thanksgiving like? Wherever our home is, is where we gather together. Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s pretty much the same, although there are some differences. There are more fireworks here, probably because the weather is mild. I’d love to see the ones that they show over Tybee Island on New Year’s. How exciting and beautiful that must be! But it will be hard for me to make the commitment to leave the house, because my favorite place to be for all of the major holidays is home, with my children and husband.

This painting is in a different style than I usually paint. It is meant to be representational, to allow you to imagine your own loved ones sitting around that table. It is, naturally, my own family, but I invite you to place yours there instead.

I look forward to this year’s holiday season, when it doesn’t really matter where we live, as the best part of the celebration is who we’re with. It’s hard when family members are missing due to temporary or permanent absence. I’ve lost both of my parents and many others as well. I think of them during the holidays, and I reach out to those who are facing their first Christmas without a loved one. We never know what tomorrow holds. Love is the most important thing, and it lives forever.

We Gather Together oil painting by Natalie Buske Thomas

List of Oil Paintings in this Collection, linking to their pages here on the site, and also citing physical pages in the hardcover book:

  1. City of Savannah
    1.1 “City of Savannah” page 6-7
    1.2 “Natalie at the Fountain” page 8-11
    1.3 “House in Savannah” page 12-13
    1.4 “Guardian Lion” page 14-15
    1.5 “Autumn Angel” page 16-17
    1.6 “Steamship Savannah” page 18-19
    1.7 “Boiled Peanuts for Sale” page 20-21
    1.8 “Bulldog” page 22-23
    1.9 “Serenity Piano” page 24-25
    1.10 “Painting Colors” page 26-27
  2. Tybee Island
    2.1 “I Love Life” page 30-31
    2.2 “Living Sand Dollar” page 32-33
    2.3 “Matthew the Sea Turtle” page 34-35
    2.4 “Fungie the Dolphin” page36-37
    2.5 “Angel Releasing Dove” page 38-39
    2.6 “Flag on Tybee Island” page 40-41
    2.7 “My Kids at the Beach” page 42-43
    2.8 “Lighthouse near Tybee Island” page 44-45
  3. Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians
    3.1 “Gator and Snake” page 48-49
    3.2 “Tree Frog” page 50-51
    3.3 “Lizard” page 52-53
    3.4 “Blue Heron” page 54-55
    3.5 “Hummingbird” page 56-57
    3.6 “Painted Bunting” page 58-59
  4. Flowers and Trees
    4.1 “Pink Flower” page 62-63
    4.2 “Porch Flowers” page 64-65
    4.3 “Clover” page 66-67
    4.4 “Butterfly Tree Flowers” page 68-69
    4.5 “Savannah Tree” page 70-71
    4.6 “Dancer in a Floral Forest” page 72-73
    4.7 “Come to the Garden” page 74-77
    4.8 “Cherokee Rose” page 78-79
  5. Faith and Food
    5.1 “Floral Cross” page 82-83
    5.2 “Lenten Flower” page 84-85
    5.3 “Celtic Cross” page 86-87
    5.4 “Mary of God’s Favor” page 88-89
    5.5 “Lion and the Lamb” page 90-91
    5.6 “Breakfast with Friends” page 92-93
    5.7 “Peaches in a Bowl” page 94-95
    5.8 “Peach Cookies” page 96-97
    5.9 “Peach Pie” page 98-99
  6. Seasons and Weather
    6.1 “Pumpkins and Mums” page 102-103
    6.2 “Autumn Cottage” page 104-105
    6.3 “Spring Lambs” page 106-107
    6.4 “Peach Tree Hurricane” page 108-109
    6.5 “Eye of the Storm” page 110-111
    6.6 “God’s Promise” page 112-113
    6.7 “We Gather Together” page 114-115
    6.8 “Savannah Snow” page 116-117
    6.9 “I Believe in Santa” page 118-119

“God’s Promise”

“When we lived in Ireland, there were rainbows almost daily, including many glorious double rainbows. Here in coastal Georgia, we don’t get rainbows nearly as often, but more regularly than other places I’ve lived. It’s the humid coastal climate that produces them and I appreciate it every time.

This art was inspired by seeing a double rainbow from the van that seemed to follow us all the way home. Most of the time I saw it over forestry, like this, and that’s a similar view that I have from the house- which is where it ended up. On the way, people were on their phones or scowling, while at the red light. I wanted to say, “Look UP!” I was discouraged by how people were missing it.

Then, we stopped at the gas station and someone was out of their car to take pictures of the double rainbow. My hope was restored! We do still notice and appreciate God’s Promise. All we have to do is remember to look UP.

God’s Promise oil painting by Natalie Buske Thomas

List of Oil Paintings in this Collection, linking to their pages here on the site, and also citing physical pages in the hardcover book:

  1. City of Savannah
    1.1 “City of Savannah” page 6-7
    1.2 “Natalie at the Fountain” page 8-11
    1.3 “House in Savannah” page 12-13
    1.4 “Guardian Lion” page 14-15
    1.5 “Autumn Angel” page 16-17
    1.6 “Steamship Savannah” page 18-19
    1.7 “Boiled Peanuts for Sale” page 20-21
    1.8 “Bulldog” page 22-23
    1.9 “Serenity Piano” page 24-25
    1.10 “Painting Colors” page 26-27
  2. Tybee Island
    2.1 “I Love Life” page 30-31
    2.2 “Living Sand Dollar” page 32-33
    2.3 “Matthew the Sea Turtle” page 34-35
    2.4 “Fungie the Dolphin” page36-37
    2.5 “Angel Releasing Dove” page 38-39
    2.6 “Flag on Tybee Island” page 40-41
    2.7 “My Kids at the Beach” page 42-43
    2.8 “Lighthouse near Tybee Island” page 44-45
  3. Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians
    3.1 “Gator and Snake” page 48-49
    3.2 “Tree Frog” page 50-51
    3.3 “Lizard” page 52-53
    3.4 “Blue Heron” page 54-55
    3.5 “Hummingbird” page 56-57
    3.6 “Painted Bunting” page 58-59
  4. Flowers and Trees
    4.1 “Pink Flower” page 62-63
    4.2 “Porch Flowers” page 64-65
    4.3 “Clover” page 66-67
    4.4 “Butterfly Tree Flowers” page 68-69
    4.5 “Savannah Tree” page 70-71
    4.6 “Dancer in a Floral Forest” page 72-73
    4.7 “Come to the Garden” page 74-77
    4.8 “Cherokee Rose” page 78-79
  5. Faith and Food
    5.1 “Floral Cross” page 82-83
    5.2 “Lenten Flower” page 84-85
    5.3 “Celtic Cross” page 86-87
    5.4 “Mary of God’s Favor” page 88-89
    5.5 “Lion and the Lamb” page 90-91
    5.6 “Breakfast with Friends” page 92-93
    5.7 “Peaches in a Bowl” page 94-95
    5.8 “Peach Cookies” page 96-97
    5.9 “Peach Pie” page 98-99
  6. Seasons and Weather
    6.1 “Pumpkins and Mums” page 102-103
    6.2 “Autumn Cottage” page 104-105
    6.3 “Spring Lambs” page 106-107
    6.4 “Peach Tree Hurricane” page 108-109
    6.5 “Eye of the Storm” page 110-111
    6.6 “God’s Promise” page 112-113
    6.7 “We Gather Together” page 114-115
    6.8 “Savannah Snow” page 116-117
    6.9 “I Believe in Santa” page 118-119